The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule to adjust the amounts of civil penalties assessed or enforced under its regulations. Those adjustment amounts pertain to regulations enforced by the DOL’s EBSA, Wage and Hour Division, OSHA, and other agencies. The final rule is effective on January 2, 2018. As provided by the Inflation Adjustment Act, the increased penalty levels apply to any penalties assessed after January 2, 2018.
Inflation Adjustment ‘Act.
The Inflation Adjustment Act requires the DOL to annually adjust its civil money penalty levels for inflation no later than January 15 of each year. The Inflation Adjustment Act provides that agencies shall adjust civil monetary penalties notwithstanding Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act. Additionally, the Inflation Adjustment Act provides a cost-of-living formula for adjustment of the civil penalties. Accordingly, the final rule sets forth the DOL’s 2018 annual adjustments for inflation to its civil monetary penalties.
Adjustments enforceable by EBSA.
Some of the other current and adjusted penalty amounts enforceable by the EBSA are as follows:
- For the failure to furnish reports such as pension benefit statements to certain former participants and beneficiaries or to maintain records, up to $29 per employee, up from $28;
- For the failure or refusal to file an annual report, up to $2,140 per day, up from $2,097;
- For the failure to provide the Secretary of Labor requested documentation not to exceed a per-request maximum, up to $152 per day, not to exceed $1,527 per request, up from $149 per day, not to exceed $1,496 per request.
- For the failure of a multiple employer welfare arrangement to file a report, up to $1,558 per day, up from $1,527;
- For the failure to provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage, up to $1,128 per failure, up from $1,105;
- For the failure to provide notices of blackout periods and of right to divest employer securities, up to $136 (each statutory recipient a separate violation), up from $133; and
- For de minimis failures to meet genetic information requirements not corrected prior to a notice from the Secretary of Labor, a minimum of $2,847, up from $2,790.
FMLA penalty adjustments.
Section 109(b) of the FMLA, as amended, and existing 29 CFR 825.300(a)(1) provide for assessment of a civil money penalty for each willful violation of the FMLA’s posting requirement. This penalty has increased from $166 to $169 for each separate offense.
SOURCE:83 FR 7, January 2, 2018.
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